Classroom Organisation Teaching Resources
Bring classroom organisation to new levels with the help of teacher tools created by teachers for teachers like you! From labels for classroom supplies and storage to handy tools for setting up your teacher desk, this collection will help you stay on track this school year.
We didn't stop there. Keep reading for some organisation tips straight from the Teach Starter teacher team to keep your classroom ticking.
Organisation Tips for Teachers — From Teachers
1. Contain Classroom Clutter With Containers
Putting things into containers not only keeps the space easier to keep tidy but also makes it easy to remove only what you need from a shelf or cabinet and return it when they are done. This is key for organising your supplies as a teacher but also to give your students' clear spots to place items they no longer need.
2. Add Labels to Your Bulldog Clips
We all use bulldog clips to organise paperwork on our desks, but can you easily tell what that clip is holding together? You can when you add labels to every clip!
3. Label Wooden Pegs by Days of the Week
Are you planning out your week of lesson plans? Keep things organised with simple wooden pegs that you have labelled by the day.
4. Hang Things Up
If you're in a classroom with a lack of storage, organisation can feel like an impossible challenge. Instead of investing your own money in purchasing shelves, bins and more, take advantage of your walls! The more you can hang, the fewer things you have to store on your precious shelf space.
5. Create a Mailbox for Classroom Communication
Creating a mailbox for your classroom isn't just cute. It can prevent notes from students or even notes coming from home from ending up on your desk and potentially getting lost in that big black hole that glue stick lids go down.
Set up the mailbox at the classroom entrance and encourage your students to put notes from home in there. You can then check it at a time that's convenient for you.
6. Get a Sectioned Lazy Susan
Make sure you always have the thing you need right where you can reach it — buy a sectioned lazy susan that spins, so you can just use your finger to roll it around to the section you need!
7. Create Washi Tape Outlines for Items You Keep on Your Desk
Outlining each item will not only remind you to place it back in the right spot but also helps guide students who 'borrow' items from your desk.
8. Use Binders for Assessment Organization
Assessments, trackers, checklists, student goals... all of this can become a little overwhelming and you may find you have bits and pieces all over the place. One teacher on our team keeps two main binders on her desk to ensure nothing goes missing.
She keeps Teach Starter assessment trackers in one binder. In the other, she keeps student work samples that she collects throughout the marking period to refer to at report card time or during parent-teacher interviews, or even when it comes time to recommend students for extra support services. Having these binders with everything together makes meetings so much less stressful!
9. Teacher Mugs = Perfect Pencil Holders
This isn’t exactly a mind-blowing tip, we know. But we all struggle with what to do with ALL OF THOSE #1 Teacher mugs we’ve gotten from our kiddos over the years, and the answer is pretty simple. Use them for pencils, pens, rulers … all those classroom supplies that tend to end up loose on your teacher desk.
How to Keep Student Desks Organised
Keeping your own space organised is one thing, but what about those student desks? Here are some organisation tips that may help!
- Explicitly teach students what an organised desk looks like, and provide a visual that they can reference. You can take a picture and mount it on your whiteboard where every student can see it.
- Designate a spot where each item should sit on your students' desks, such as 'folders on the right' or 'workbooks on the left.'
- Schedule specific times during the school day for students to neaten their desks, such as before recess and at the end of the day. Taking the time to clear up your desk while students clear theirs is a great way to lead by example.
- Do random 'desk checks,' and award students whose desks are neat and tidy with a no homework pass to encourage students to take responsibility for their desk organisation. You can also award them with one of Teach Starter's desk fairy awards!
- Hold a 'clean out Friday' session before any Fun Friday festivities commence.
- Add chair pockets to your students' chairs to give them extra space for items that just have no place to go.
- Plus Plan
Watercolour Rainbow Classroom Theme Bundle
Brighten up your classroom space with a cheery Watercolour Rainbow Classroom Theme using a variety of editable classroom decor printables.
- Free Plan
Supply Storage Bin Labels
Create a print-rich environment with a set of 93 classroom labels for storage bins.
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Meet The Teacher Presentation Template
Introduce yourself and your classroom expectations to parents and students with a customisable Meet the Teacher Slideshow!
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Calm Down Corner Classroom Decor Pack
Create a classroom calming corner with a printable Calm Corner Decor Pack.
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Phonics Sound Wall Display
Build a classroom sound wall to match your phonics programs and literacy progressions with a printable sound wall display.
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Google Sheets Digital Teacher Planner
Start the school year with a ready-made digital lesson plan and record book using our Google Sheets Digital Lesson Planner.
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Classroom Jobs Display
Keep track of classroom responsibilities with a Classroom Jobs Display!
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Under the Sea Classroom Theme Decor Bundle
Download an under the sea classroom theme bundle that has everything you need for decorating your classroom this school year!
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I'm Done! Early Finishers Choice Board Display
Build a useful ‘I’m Done, Now What?’ classroom display with a printable early finisher choice board display.
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Google Sheets Grade Book
Keep tabs on student grades with a Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel Student Grade Tracking spreadsheet.
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Meet The Teachers - Template for Back to School BINGO!
Encourage your students to explore their new classroom and meet the teachers with a game of Bingo!
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When You Enter This Classroom - Door Display
Welcome your students into your classroom with a ‘When You Enter This Classroom” Student Affirmations Classroom Door Display
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Sunflower Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Refresh your classroom decor with a bright and cheerful Sunflower Classroom Theme Decor Bundle.
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Editable Retro Themed Classroom Organisation Labels
Get organised with editable and printable classroom labels with a fun, retro theme.
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Nostalgic 90s Theme Classroom Decor Bundle
Time travel into the days of slap bracelets and eye-popping geometric patterns with a fun 90s Theme Classroom Decor Bundle.
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Noise Meter Classroom Display
Guide your students in determining the desired voice levels throughout the day with this colourful classroom display.
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Classroom Birthday Board - Birthday Beehive
Celebrate your students’ sweet birthdays with a fun Birthday Beehive Classroom Birthday board.
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Sleepy Sloth Classroom Decor Theme Bundle
Slow down and enjoy decorating your classroom with a fun Sleepy Sloth Classroom Decor Theme Bundle!
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Rose Garden Zen Classroom Decor Bundle
Transform your classroom into a blooming garden of knowledge with our enchanting Rose Garden Zen Classroom Decor Bundle.
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Classroom Clock Labels - Flower Display
Use our Flower Wall Clock Labels to create a garden-themed clock display to help children read the time.
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Printable Classroom Helpers Bulletin Board
Print all you need for a classroom helpers bulletin board to make sure students know who is responsible for various jobs in your classroom.
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Classroom Colour Charts
Promote colour recognition in your preschool classroom with printable colour word charts with images.
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Customisable Classroom Yearly Wall Planner
Use this yearly wall planner in your classroom to help your students with their planning and organisation skills all term!
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Interactive Classroom Layout Designer
Save your time (and your back) by pre-planning your classroom furniture placement with a Google Slides or PowerPoint interactive design template.
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Classroom Jobs for Students - Bulletin Board
Keep track of classroom responsibilities and save wall space with a space-saving Classroom Jobs Display!
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Vocabulary Activities Bulletin Board
Ignite your students' interest with fun vocabulary activities that make learning new words interactive through our vibrant bulletin board set for a Word of the Day or Week routine!
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Days of the Week Calendar Maths Classroom Display
Help students learn the days of the week with a daily calendar maths display.
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Free PowerPoint Slide Template for Teachers - Pink Spots
Prepare and instruct your students on day-to-day classroom happenings with a ‘Pretty in Pink’ Free Google Slides Template for teachers.
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Teacher Waiting Room - Clip System
Calm classroom chaos when students need one-on-one help from the teacher with a printable Teacher Waiting List Clip System!
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Teacher Computer Desktop Wallpapers
Organise your computer desktop with bright and cheery motivational desktop wallpapers for teachers!
- Free Plan
Days of the Week Poster
Display the days of the week with a bright and cheery Days of the Week Poster.
- Free Plan
Sharp and Blunt Pencil Signs (Pencil Station)
Help keep your pencils organised in the classroom with these pencil station signs.